California Chrome Wins The Kentucky Derby

California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes out of the fourth turn en route to winning the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Andy Lyons
/ Getty Images

Originally published on May 3, 2014 8:26 pm

California Chrome won the 140th running of Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville Saturday. The horse was favored to win, despite quirks that set him apart from his more traditional competitors.

"California Chrome, who gained fame for his rags-to-riches tale outside the traditional rise of champion thoroughbreds, originally was a 5-2 morning line favorite, ultimately going off as a 2-1 favorite at post time."

Chrome's trainer, 77-year-old Art Sherman, became the oldest Derby trainer to win, The Associated Press reports. Sherman told the AP he thought jockey Victor Espinoza rode the horse perfectly: "I never gave him any instructions. I just said, 'You know this horse, go for it.' "